Jacobs has always been the quicker and more athletic between them, and he used these qualities to control distance for the first minute. Quillin was a split-second late with right-hand counters to Jacobs's jab.

Having controlled distance, Jacobs took advantage of more flaws in Quillin – his slow reflexes, poor balance and coordination which compromise his defense. Jacobs feinted with his left hand, as a jab, then as a hook. Jacobs later said that he pulled Quillin's gloves down, although the video suggests that Quillin also attempted to lower both of his hands to parry a mid-level hook to his right side while moving his head to the opposite side thus leaving his head exposed...where Jacobs followed with a right hand that Quillin leaned into with his face. This buckled the knees of Quillin even though he was still alert. Jacobs pounced on him, throwing quick punches with alternating hands, completely squaring himself up for a counter, but at the same time never allowing Quillin to compose himself.

Lacking the footwork, Quillin resorted to trading where he was then hit directly on his left temple by an overhand right. Quillin's equilibrium was shot; he tripped over his own feet but managed to remain standing. The referee took a look into Quillin's eyes and decided that Quillin could not continue and stopped the fight with 1:35 left.

Having studied Quillin well, Jacobs knew that Quillin could not handle his speed or aggression, which meant he could smother Quillin or box him on the outside, whichever he chose. Quillin was the favorite, but he had no clear advantages. For Jacobs, the logical choices of a next fight are for him to fight the winner of Andy Lee versus Billy Joe Saunders, face Gennady Golovkin, or rematch Quillin. Golovkin would be the riskiest for Jacobs, but Jacobs' speed would similarly trouble Golovkin as it did Quillin. Jacobs is in fact the mandatory for Golovkin's WBA middleweight title.